Refrigeration apparatus



Jan. l0, 1939. J. N. sALER I REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1l, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l llllll A L 4 l l.\4.. A

Jan. l1o, 1939@ j. N. SALER A 2,143,169

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. ll, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IVENTOR JuLis N. ALEE..

Jan. 10, 1 939. J. N. sALER 2,143,159

' REFRIGEBATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 141, 193e 4 sheets-sheet s.

- uw W 37 3., F16. Hei FIGS.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: v d w, y oww/Wm JULES N. 5min.

Jan. 10, 1939. J. N, SALl-:R 2,143,169

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 195e 4 Smeets-sheet 4 Fas. la WITNESSES: INVENTOR M 7Y.U-M-/ JULES N. SALER..

W WMM WM ATTOR Y Patented Jan. `10, 1939` PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Ju1es`N. Saler, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 11, 1936, Serial No. 58,612

7 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigeration apparatus, and particularly to a cooling elementfor mechanical refrigeration apparatus, as well as to a method of manufacturing the same.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved Asheet metal cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a sheet metal cooling element' for mechanical re' frigeration apparatus.

It is another object of my invention to construct a sheet metal cooling element for domestic refrigeration apparatus in which the amount of t material utilized is reduced from that generally used heretofore in cooling elements of this type, and at the same time to provide a large cooling surface for the medium to be cooled in the refrigeration apparatus.

20 It is still another object of my invention to provide a cooling element utilizing a minimum amount of material and to provide for quick freezing of liquids which are to be frozen by the cooling element. v

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel refrigerant `circuit in a cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus.

It is another object of `my invention to provide a refrigerant circuit which will ensure forced feed lof'refrigerant and .which will concentrate refrigeration at the surfaces onwhich pans` of liquid are to be placed forfreezing the liquid.

'I'hese and other objects .arev effected by my invention. as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofoneembodiment of my sheet metal coolingvelement; y ,Y

Fig. 2is a side view, partlyin section, and partly `broken away, of the "evaporator rshown-,in Flg.l;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the cooling element shown in Fig. l, showing the refrigerant connections' to the cooling element;l t l L Fig.` 4 is a planviewpf 'themain' sheet metal blankfrom which the cooling element shown in Fig. 1 is formed; .Y

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of taken on line :VAV of 4; 4

l Figs: *6 and 'l "are`` planl and side views respectively of the'headerblank for!A the cooling element; V M

'the main' think Fig. 8 is aplan'fvliewof thej'sheet rmetal which forms refrigerant passages vwithtl'e horizontal wall of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the blank shown in Fig. 8 taken on line IX-IX thereof;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the blank shown 5 in Fig. 8 taken on line X-X thereof;

Fig. 11 is a front view of another embodimentv of my invention illustrating a cooling element provided with a horizontal refrigerated shelf disposed above the lower horizontal wall mem- 10 ber; and,

v Fig. 12 isa partial sectional view of the cooling element shown in Fig. 11 illustrating the support for the refrigerated shelf. l

. Referring specifically to Figs. 1 to 10 fora detailed description of one embodiment of my invention, numeral 20 designates a main sheet metal blank, illustrated best in Figs. 4 and 5. The main sheet metal blank 20 is provided4 with depressed header forming portions 2| and` with a plurality of short corrugations 22 extending perpendicularly to the header forming portions and arranged in-two rows adjacent each header forming. portion.- Corrugations23 are arranged parallel to the header forming portions 2| be-' tween edges 24 of the main sheet metal blank 20 and the header formingA portions 2|. As

shown in Figs. 1` to 3, the main sheet metal blank 20 is nally .bent to form two vertical wall members 25 and, 26A and a horizontal wall member 21.

Complementary header `forming blanks 28, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, are` welded to the main blank 20 and form, with. the header portions` 2| thereof, headers or passages 29 and 30 for cong taining refrigerant, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to.3. 35 The lheader forming blanks `28 are provided with arcuate depressions 3|, and amarginal portion 3.2.` Theh'eader forminglblanks 28 are fastened to the. mainnblank 20 by welding `the aforesaid marginal portions 32 toinnerk flat portions V33 .of l theupper side of. the mainblank` 20 which ex tends vbetweenthe perpendiculancorrugations 22 and theparallelcorrugatlons `23. y

A at sheet of metal 3lis providedgwith a serpentine corrugation 35, as illustrated in Figs; 8 to 10, andis welded y.to the horizontal wall` 21. of the main blank `2|), `forming vtherewith,passages 36, for refrigerant, thus providing a sharp freeze` ingplate forfreezing liquids.. 'I'hesheet M Y`is f also provided with .enlarged depressions.3l l :and ,38 at therespective endsof the serpentinelcorthe cooling element shown in rugation `35,for a'purpose hereinafter described. Itis obviousthat the patch header forming blanks,28 and thefsheet 3,4 4 llgavingthe'serpem tine corrugations 25 therein may be both at- 55 tached to the main blank 2|) before or after the main blank 20 is bent to U-shape. It will also be apparent that the corrugations 22 and 23 in the vertical walls 26 and 21 strengthen the walls and improve the appearance thereof, but do not form passages for refrigerant. Since the patch header forming blanks 28 stop at the top of the corrugations 22 in spaced relation to the bottom horizontal wall 28, it is clear that the majority of the extent of the vertical walls 25 and 26 is of a single thickness of metal, thus saving a considerable amount of material and providing an extremely easily fabricated cooling element. Whether such a cooling element is formed of steel, stainless steel, or of a brass alloy, the saving in material is considerable, and the amount of heat absorbing surface is substantially the same as in the conventional double walled sheet metal cooling element. In addition, the rupture point of the resulting cooling element is many times above that of the normal operating pressures. Y Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 for a description of the refrigerant connections for the above-described cooling element, numeral 40 designates a liquid refrigerant inlet conduit which connects with the enlarged depression 31 in the sheet 34 which is fastened to the bottom wall 21 of the cooling unit. Liquid and gaseous refrigerant are conveyed through the serpentine passage 36 to a conduit 4| which connects the enlarged depression 38 at the other end of the serpentine passage 36 to header 30, and extends from the rear of the header 30 to the front thereof below the liquid in the header 30. A conduit 42 extends from adjacent the top of the interior of the header 30 to the bottom of the header 29, thus conveying liquid refrigerant which overflows and also gaseous refrigerant which has been vaporized in the passages 36 and header 30 to the header 29. Additional vaporization of refrigerant takes place in header 29. An outlet conduit 43 extends'from the upper portion of the interior of the opposite end of the header 29 from the end through which the conduit 42 enters. The level of liquid in the header 29 is designated at 44, this level being regulated by the amount of refrigerant charged into .the system to ensure that only gaseous re frigerant is withdrawn through outlet conduit 43. The side walls 25 and 26, formed of a single thickness o f metal from the blank 20, are cooled by evaporation of refrigerant in .the passages 36 and in headers 2-9 and 30, heatbeing conducted to the refrigerant contained'therein through the metal .of the coolingv element. The side walls therefore cool air circulating over their outer surfaces, and also provide a shieldof cooled metal for the interior of the U-shaped cooling element so that liquids may be quicklygxongeaIed' therein .when disposed in heat exchange'relation with the bottom horizontal wallv28. Refrigeration is concentrated at the bottom wall 28fbe'eaus`e of direct contact with refrigerantin the passages 36, thus ensuring'rapid freezing of liquids, piaced in heat exchange relation therewith.' -A

, Referring now to Figs. 11 andgl for a detailed description of a second embdimentjof my invention, a cooling element generally designated at 5I is formed substantially in the same manner as that shown in Fig. 1 except ,that an intermediate refrigerated shelf 5| isv disposed in a U-shaped freezing compartment 52 formed by side walls 53 and 54 and a lower horizontal wall 55 of the cooling element 511. Passages 51 for refrigerant are formed in the bottom wall 6i in the same manner as the passages 36 are formed in the first embodiment of my invention. Headbodiment of my invention shown in Figs, 1 to 10.

The refrigerated shelf 5| embodies a substantially fiat sheet of metal 6| welded to a sheet of metal 62 similar to the sheet 34 shown in Figs. 8 to 10, so that a serpentine passage 63 for refrigerant is provided. Bumps 64 are formed in the side walls 53 and 54 and the refrigerated shelf is supported thereon, as best shown in Fig. l2.

The refrigerant circuit for the cooling element shown in Fig. 11 is as follows:v Liquid refrigerant enters the passages 51 in the lower horizontal wall member 55 through an inlet conduit 64. Refrigerant liquid and vapor is then conveyed to the serpentine passages 63 in the refrigerated shelf 5| through conduit 66. Refrigerant liquid and vapor from the refrigerated shelf 5| is then conveyed to the header 59 through a conduit 61, and to header 58 through a conduit 69, in the same manner that refrigerant is conveyed from passages 36 to the headers 29 and 30 in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 10. Further vaporization of refrigerant occurs in header 58. A refrigerant outlet'conduit 69 conveys refrigerant vapor only from the header 58, `the level of refrigerant in the header 59 being designated at 1|J and being maintained below the opening of the outlet conduit 69 by regulating the charge of refrigerant. The cooling element 50, therefore, provides two surfaces, namely, the lower wall 55 and the refrigerated shelf 5|, for quickly congealing liquids and also provides for adequately coolingthe vertical walls 53 and 54 by the vaporization of refrigerant in passages 51 and 63, and in headers 58 and 59, whereby air coming into contact with the extended surfaces of said walls 53 and 54 is cooled. It is obvious that the headers 58 and 59, and the sheet forming the passage 51 in the lower horizontal wall may be. attached to the cooling element 58 at any time before or after it is bent into U-shape.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a novel cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus in which very little material is necessary to form the cooling element and in which adequate cooling for air and space for quickly freezing liquids are provided. Furthermore, I have provided a novel method of manufacturing such a cooling element, and have provided novel refrigerant circuits for the two illustrated embodiments of my invention which ensure forced refrigerant feed throughout the cooling element and concentrated refrigerating'effect at the surfaces on which liquids are to be frozen to obtain fast freezing of said liquids.

"While I have shown my invention in several .forms, it will, be obvious to those skilled in the art that itisnot so limited, but issusceptible of various other changes and modications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus comprising a first sheet of metal bent to form a vertical wall member and a horizontal wall member therebelow, both of said wall members being formed of single thickness-of metal, a second sheet of metal welded to the verrefrigerant containing headers, said pieces oftical portion of the first sheet of metal to form, with said rst sheet, a refrigerant containing header, said second 'sheet oi' metal terminating short of said horizontal wall member, a third Isheet of metal welded to said horizontal wall member and having corrugations therein to form, with the horizontal wall member, a refrigerant containing passage, and refrigerant connecting means between said header and said passages.

2. A cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus comprising a first sheet of metal bent to form a vertical wall member and a horizontal wall member therebelow, both of said wall members being formed of a single thickness of metal, a second sheet of metal welded to the l vertical portion -of the first sheet of metal to form, with the nrst sheet, a refrigerant containing header, said second sheet of metal termi,- nating short of said lower horizontal wall member, a third sheet of metal fastened to the horizontal wall member and having corrugations therein to form, with the horizontal wall member, refrigerant containing passages, and means for conveying refrigerant gas therefrom.

3. A cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus embodying a pair of spaced vertical wall members, a horizontal wall member extending across the lower extremities of said vertical wall members, said vertical wall members and said horizontal wall member being formed of a single thickness of metal, a sheet of metal welded to each of said vertical wall members to form, with said vertical wall members, two refrigerant containing headers, said sheets of metal being spaced from the bottoms of said vertical wall members, another sheet of metal welded to said horizontal wall member -and having corrugations therein to form, with said horizontal wall member, refrigerant containing passages, and refrigerant connecting means between one of said headers and said passages.

4. A cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus embodying a pair of spaced vertical wall members, a horizontal wall member extending across the lower extremities of said vertical wall members, said vertical-wall members and said horizontal wall member being formed of a single thicknessy of metal, a piece of metal fastened to each of said vertical wall members to form, with said vertical wall members a pair of m'etal being spaced from the bottoms of said vertical wall members, and 'means attached to the horizontal wall member to form refrigerant containing passages in contact with the horizontal wall member.

5. A cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus embodying a pair of spaced vertical wall members, a horizontal wall member extending across the lower extremities of said vertical wall members, said vertical wall members and said horizontal wall members being formed of a single thickness of metal, sheets of metal welded to each of said vertical wall members to form, with said vertical wall members, refrigerant containing passages, said sheets of metal being spaced from the bottoms of said vertical wall members, and means attached to said horizontal wall member to provide refrigerant passages in thermal contact with said horizontal wall member.

6. A cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus embodying a pair of spaced ver` tical wall members, a horizontal wail member extending across the lower extremities of said vertical wall members, said vertical wall members and said horizontal wall member being formed of a single thickness of metal, means associated with said\vertical wall members to form therewith a pair of refrigerant containing headers, the space intervening on the side wall members between said headers and said horizontal wall being formed of a single thickness of metal without refrigerant passages therein, and means attached to the horizontal wall member to form refrigerant containing passages in contact therewith.

7. A cooling element for mechanical refrigeration apparatus embodying a pair of spaced vertical wall members, a` horizontal wall 'member extending across the lower extremities of said vertical wall members, means associated with said vertical wall members to form therewith a pair o f refrigerant containing headers, the space intervening on the side wall members between said headers and said horizontal wall being formed without refrigerant passages therein, and means attached to the horizontal wall member to form refrigerant containing passages in contact there.

with.

JULES N. SALER. 

